Deck 23: Terrestrial Ecosystems

Question 1

More than one-half of all known plant and animal species occur in tropical ________ forests.

Answer 1

rain

Question 2

Plants that root and grow on other plants in the tropical rain forest are called

A)phreatophytes.
B)succulents.
C)epiphytes.
D)halophytes.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Frozen, treeless plains dominated by sedges, heaths, and willows at high latitudes and elevations are referred to as ________.

Answer 3

tundra

Question 4

A belt of coniferous forest, known as taiga, or ________ forest, occurs in the high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere.

Question 5

Leaves that live for only a single year or growing season are classified as ________.

Question 6

Leaves that live for more than a year are classified as ________.

Question 7

Identify four Canadian biomes and state their dominant characteristics.

Question 8

The highest diversity of plant and animal life occurs in

A)tropical savannahs.
B)tropical rain forests.
C)temperate deciduous forests.
D)boreal forests.

Question 9

The independent evolution of a similar characteristic in two different species, not derived from a recent, common ancestor is referred to as

A)microevolution.
B)divergent evolution.
C)convergent evolution.
D)macroevolution.

Question 10

Which of the following is the predominant leaf form of environments where the growing season is very short or where nutrient availability severely constrains photosynthesis and plant growth?

A)winter-deciduous leaves
B)drought-deciduous leaves
C)broad-leaf evergreen leaves
D)needle-leaf evergreen leaves

Question 11

Identify the four type of Canadian grasslands. Where are they located and why are they in those locations?

Question 12

Arid environments that occur in the rainshadow of mountain barriers or are located far inland where moist maritime air rarely penetrates are referred to as ________.

Question 13

Which of the following allocates the greatest amount of biomass to photosynthetic tissue and the least amount to supportive tissue?

A)trees
B)shrubs
C)lianas
D)grasses

Question 14

The study of the distributions of organisms, past and present, is referred to as

A)biogeography.
B)community ecology.
C)ecosystem ecology.
D)population ecology.

Question 15

________ is the study of the spatial or geographical distribution of organisms, both past and present.

Question 16

Tropical ________ refers to vegetation in the drier tropics and subtropics that is dominated by a ground cover of grasses with scattered shrubs or trees.

Question 17

A classification of plant formations and associated animal life into biotic units based on the predominant plant types, with at least eight major terrestrial types, is referred to as a(n)

A)community.
B)biome.
C)ecosystem.
D)biosphere.

Question 18

Buttresses, which are broad outgrowths at the base of trees, are best developed in

A)temperate deciduous forest.
B)coniferous forest.
C)tropical rain forest.
D)temperate shrubland.

Question 19

A(n)________ is a classification of plant formations and associated animal life into biotic units based on the predominant plant types, with at least eight major terrestrial types.

Question 20

A ________ climate is characterized by hot, dry summers and cool, moist winters.

Question 21

The largest terrestrial biome on Earth is the

A)tropical rainforest.
B)desert.
C)tundra.
D)boreal forest.

Question 22

The vegetation of tundra is dominated by

A)broadleaf deciduous trees.
B)short plants such as sedges, heaths, and willow.
C)needle-leaf evergreen trees.
D)sclerophyllous broadleaf evergreen shrubs.

Question 23

Deciduous leaves usually live for more than a single year or growing season.

Question 24

The vegetation formation dominated by needle-leaf evergreen trees and occurring at high latitudes or high elevations where growth is restricted to a few months of the year due to low temperatures is referred to as

A)temperate deciduous forest.
B)tundra.
C)boreal forest.
D)temperate shrubland.

Question 25

More than half of all known plant and animal species occur in tropical rain forests.

Question 26

Most deserts are located

A)near the equator.
B)in the southern hemisphere.
C)in the rainshadow of mountain ranges.
D)near coastal areas with warm oceanic currents.

Question 27

The dominant biome in Mediterranean climates with hot, dry summers and cool, moist winters is

A)temperate shrubland.
B)temperate deciduous forest.
C)desert.
D)tropical savannah.

Question 28

The largest and most continuous region of tropical rain forest in the world is in South America.

Question 29

Frozen, treeless plains dominated by sedges, heaths, and willows at high latitudes and elevations is referred to as

A)prairie.
B)steppe.
C)tundra.
D)pampas.

Question 30

Biogeography is the study of the distribution and abundance of organisms.

Question 31

Classification of the world's major terrestrial biomes is based on the dominant forms of plant life.

Question 32

The taiga covers ________ of Canada's landmass.

A)15%
B)35%
C)50%
D)Taiga isn't found in Canada.

Question 33

In a temperate deciduous forest, the concentration and diversity of animal life is greatest in the

A)ground layer.
B)herb layer.
C)lower canopy.
D)upper canopy.

Question 34

Tropical rain forests typically have a thick layer of litter on the forest floor.

Question 35

Shrubs and grasses allocate more carbon to the production of supportive tissues than trees.

Question 36

Similar climates produce similar vegetation structure around the world.

Question 37

The independent evolution of a similar characteristic in two different species not derived from a recent, common ancestor is referred to as convergent evolution.

Question 38

Savannahs typically occur in

A)cold areas with little rainfall in polar regions.
B)cold areas with little rainfall at high altitudes in the tropics.
C)very dry areas in the rain shadow of mountains of both temperate and tropical latitudes.
D)warm areas with seasonal rainfall in the tropics.

Question 39

Trees, shrubs, and grasses are the dominant plant forms used to classify ecosystems.

Question 40

Large grazing ungulates and burrowing animals are most abundant in

A)deserts.
B)tropical rain forest.
C)temperate shrubland.
D)temperate grassland.

Question 41

Tundra occurs at high elevations on mountains.

Question 42

Deciduous trees and shrubs occur in some areas of the tropics.

Question 43

Tundra occurs only at high latitudes in polar regions.

Question 44

Grazing ungulates are relatively common and burrowing rodents are relatively rare in temperate grasslands.

Question 45

The dry forests of tropical regions are referred to as tropical savannahs.

Question 46

In the tropical latitudes, the length of the dry season increases with distance from the equator.

Question 47

Conifer forests are dominated by needle-leaf evergreen trees.

Question 48

The diversity of plant and animal life is higher in tropical savannahs than in any other terrestrial biome.

Question 49

Discuss the differences in structure and climate between tropical rain forest and dry tropical forest.

Question 50

Explain why the soils of rain forests are poor for agriculture.

Question 51

Mediterranean climates are characterized by relatively dry summers and wet winters.

Question 52

Deserts often occur in the rain shadow of mountain ranges.

Question 53

Deserts are typically hot throughout the year because most are located near the equator.

Question 54

Temperate shrublands are the dominant biomes in regions with a Mediterranean climate.

Question 55

Describe four types of leaf forms and the characteristics of the environment in which each leaf type typically occurs.

Question 56

Rainfall is greater in temperate deciduous forests than in temperate shrublands and grasslands.

Question 57

Topographic features, such as mountains and valleys, influence the climate of a region.

Question 58

Net primary productivity of boreal forest is generally lower than in temperate deciduous forest.

Question 59

Discuss the factors that limit the growth of trees in savannahs and grasslands.

Question 60

In temperate deciduous forests, the greatest concentration and diversity of life occurs in the canopy.

Question 61

Discuss the differences in structure and climate between tropical savannahs and deserts.

Question 62

Describe the climatic and topographic factors that favour the formation of deserts.

Question 63

Describe the soil conditions in boreal forest and how vegetation affects and is affected by the soil conditions.